Rockport State Recreation Area

State park in Michigan, United States

Rockport State Recreation Area

View of the old quarry

Location within the state of Michigan

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Rockport State Recreation Area (the United States)

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Location| Alpena, Presque Isle counties, Michigan, USA
Nearest city| Alpena, Michigan
Coordinates| 45°11′59″N 83°23′42″W﻿ / ﻿45.1997°N 83.3949°W﻿ / 45.1997; -83.3949
Area| 4,237 acres (17.15 km2)
Established| 2012
Governing body| Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Website| Official website

Rockport State Recreation Area is a 4,237-acre (17.15 km2) state park located along the shore of Lake Huron in Alpena and Presque Isle counties in the state of Michigan, United States. It is operated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and was established in 2012. The park contains limestone formations and an old limestone quarry.[1][2] There is a deep water boat launch that can accommodate all sizes of watercraft.[3] The park is located along the Lake Huron Flyway. It is used to gauge the health of Lake Huron and its shoreline environment. Several ship wrecks can be found off-shore in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, including the Portland and the Portsmouth.[4] The park was previously known as "The Rockport property" and is not far north of Alpena, Michigan.[5]

In Alpena County, about 11 miles south is the Michigan Nature Association's Julius C. and Marie Moran Peter Memorial Nature Sanctuary. The sanctuary encompasses 95 acres and Grass Lake. Dwarf lake iris, bird's-eye primrose and eastern white cedar surround it, and running through it is Hamilton Road, Michigan's first declared "Natural Beauty Road" (1971).[5] Rockport State Recreation Area was designated a Michigan "dark sky preserve" in 2016.[6]

Rockport State Park is Michigan's 100th state park and a dark sky preserve. It contains a 300 acres (120 ha) abandoned limestone quarry, Devonian fossils, sinkholes and a protected deep water harbor.[A] It is a U.S. 23 route heritage site.[9] It is part of the "Alpena Blueway" paddling route.[10][11][12]

## See also

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* Negwegon State Park
* Thompson's Harbor State Park

## References

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### Notes

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1. ^ "... Rockport State Park, Michigan’s 100th State Park and an official Dark Sky Preserve includes a deep-water protected harbor, an old limestone quarry of approximately 300 acres, a unique series of sinkholes, Devonian Period fossils, the Besser Natural Area, and a broad range of land types, vegetative cover, cultural resources, and recreation opportunities[7][8]

### Citations

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1. ^ "Rockport Becomes the Newest Michigan State Park" (Press release). Michigan DNR. February 10, 2012. Archived from the original on December 12, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
2. ^ Travis, Jordan (April 12, 2012). "DNR to secure permission for Friends of Rockport to clear trails". The Alpena News. Ogden Newspapers Inc. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
3. ^ "Rockport Boating Access Site". Michigan's Recreational Boating Information System.
4. ^ Michigan DNR. "The Rockport Property Executive Summary" (PDF). p. 2.
5. ^ a b "Michigan's Newest State Park: Rockport". Michigan Nature Association. March 9, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
6. ^ Jackson, Angie (February 18, 2016). "Michigan designates 3 new dark sky preserves". MLive.
7. ^ "Rockport State Recreation Area". Retrieved April 17, 2023.
8. ^ VanderWeide, Melody (March 24, 2023). "Rockport State Park 2023: Hit the Fossil Motherlode Explore a Ghost Town and Kayak to Shipwrecks". Retrieved April 17, 2023.
9. ^ U.S. 23 Heritage route Discover Heritage Route 23
10. ^ Alpena Blueway Discover Heritage Route 23
11. ^ "Alpena Blueway - Michigan Water Trails". Michigan Water Trails. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
12. ^ "Lake Huron, Michigan. Alpena Blueway". National Rivers Project. Retrieved April 18, 2023.

## External links

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* [1] Michigan Department of Natural Resources

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Protected areas of Michigan

See also: Important Bird Areas and State game and wildlife areas

National|

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* Isle Royale
* Keweenaw (Historical)
* River Raisin (Battlefield)

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Lakeshores|

* Pictured Rocks
* Sleeping Bear Dunes

Landmarks|

* Au Sable State Forest
* Dukes Research Natural Area
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* Haven Hill State Natural Area
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* Porcupine Mountains
* Roscommon Virgin Pine Stand
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* Tobico Marsh
* Toumey Woods
* Warren Woods State Park
* Waterloo State Recreation Area

Forests|

* Hiawatha
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Wildlife Refuges|

* Detroit River
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Wild and Scenic Rivers|

* Au Sable
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Other Protected Areas|

* Father Marquette National Memorial
* Grand Island National Recreation Area
* Saint Helena Island National Scenic Area
* Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

State|

| Parks|

* Albert E. Sleeper
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* Cheboygan
* Clear Lake
* Coldwater Lake
* Craig Lake
* Dodge No.4
* Duck Lake
* Fayette
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* Fort Michilimackinac
* Fort Wilkins
* Fred Meijer White Pine Trail
* Gete Mino Mshkiigan
* Grand Haven
* Grand Mere
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* Hartwick Pines
* W.J. Hayes
* P.H. Hoeft
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* Holland
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* Watkins Lake and County Preserve
* J.W. Wells
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* William G. Milliken
* Wilson
* Young

|

Recreation Areas|

* Bald Mountain
* Bass River
* Brighton
* Fort Custer
* Highland
* Holly
* Ionia
* Island Lake
* Lake Hudson
* Lime Island
* Menominee River
* Metamora-Hadley
* Ortonville
* Pinckney
* Pontiac Lake
* Proud Lake
* Rifle River
* Rockport
* Tippy Dam
* Waterloo
* W.C. Wetzel
* Yankee Springs

Forests|

* Au Sable
* Copper Country
* Escanaba River
* Lake Superior
* Mackinaw
* Pere Marquette

Underwater Preserves|

* Alger
* De Tour Passage
* Grand Traverse Bay
* Keweenaw
* Manitou Passage
* Marquette
* Sanilac Shores
* Southwest Michigan
* Straits of Mackinac
* Thumb Area
* Whitefish Point

Other|

* Agate Falls Scenic Site
* Bond Falls Scenic Site
* Douglass Houghton Falls Scenic Site
* Michigan Islands Wilderness Area
* Ocqueoc Falls
* Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center
* Wagner Falls Scenic Site

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* Michigan Department of Natural Resources

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